You're a New Mom at Christmas When...

... you wait until the last possible moment to put on your party dress for fear you'll get spit up on.

... all you want for Christmas is a long winter's nap.

... you wrap presents, knowing full well the baby will like the wrapping more than the present.

... Christmas is better than it's been since you were eight years old.

Visiting the tree at the Hotel del Coronado

Makin' nice with the big guy

Holiday shopping with our friend Lexi

Back to Work

I’ve had my share of adventures. I’ve traveled through jungles and forests, deserts and canyons. I’ve slept in castles and in tents. I’ve had sushi in Japan, kava in Fiji, Guinness in Dublin, pasta in Tuscany and coffee in Costa Rica. I’ve seen the Crown Jewels, the Faberge eggs, and the fireworks over the Potomac. I’ve shopped on Rodeo Drive and met cowboys in Texas. I've kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland and a pair of dice in Las Vegas. I’ve been serenaded by a Venetian gondolier, a chorus of rain-forest dwelling animals, and an Englishman in a London pub. But none of my adventures have been as challenging, as rewarding, or wonderful as the past six months I’ve spent being a mom to our beautiful baby girl.

Day at the Zoo

Avery loves the zoo! Here are some shots from our trip today.

Happy Half-Birthday, Baby!

Avery is six months old today!

Maybe I Should Start a Franchise

Our living room has become a baby Curves. Just walking from the hall to the front door requires deft maneuvering through the circuit course created by Avery’s Exersaucer, Baby Einstein gym, Johnny Jump-Up and cradle swing.

Now that Avery’s nearly six months old, she craves constant sensory input. So I spend a lot of time at home shuttling her from one apparatus to the next, frantically folding laundry or putting away dishes before she reaches the limits of her 30-second attention span and starts fussing in protest. It actually works out great. She has fun, I get the house clean, and we both get plenty of exercise.

Little Stinker

Avery had a great Halloween, trick-or-treating through her dad's office, our neighborhood and at her grandparent's house. Everywhere we went, people said, "What a cute little stinker." And they were right.

Bouncing Baby

We're pretty sure Avery's going to skip crawling altogether. She wants to stand (with our help) all the time. And she may skip walking and go straight to dancing. Check out the little tap dance she did this morning while hanging out in her new Johnny Jump-Up.

Ready for Halloween

Avery wouldn't swallow her teething tablets this morning. I think she's trying to tell me she wants to go as a vampire...